Why the world left the United States, China, India, and Australia behind
Good Riddance
Topics like green energy and the transition to renewables have the potential to tie politicians in knots. Only capitalists are allowed to exploit existential fear to sell their products. Everyone else has to apply for permission from the U.S. Republican board of directors.
Clutching to an industry that is barely keeping its head above water may not be a bad idea for politicians who accept corporate campaign contributions, but it is an extremely bad idea for people who depend on the industry for their livelihood.
The entire world, barring a few big names, decided to bid adieu to coal yesterday. After more than “40 countries pledged to phase out coal,” the head of the United Nations Climate Conference, Alok Sharma declared “the end of coal is in sight.”
But how can the world break up with the dirtiest power source when the three biggest consumers of coal — the United States, China, India, and the largest exporter — Australia, quietly slipped through the back door.
The dirty four may have thrown a life jacket for coal, but they cannot resurrect a dying industry because the transition to alternate power sources is already underway. The climate conference just added a bit more fuel to the growing fire.
